Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Soho theatre, LondonAndy Zaltzman decries the state of modern political comedy. So why is his stage act so noncommittal?In an interview last week, Andy Zaltzman lamented the state of politi…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:36AMTuesday, September 10, 2013
Luisa Omielan and Gina Yashere on board as show numbers swell to more than 100. Plus, what Lenny Henry should have left unsaid and the latest on the Edmondson-Davidson spatThis week's comedy…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:49AMTuesday, September 3, 2013
Ricky Gervais's Office character will strut his stuff on stage with the big boys, Lee Evans just wants to sit and paint, and we enjoy some scientific one-liners from our readersThis week's c…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:16AMThursday, August 29, 2013
Soho theatre, LondonOkine's adept autobiographical show about a trip to Ghana makes for a nuanced exploration of privilege and povertyYou don't get many debut comedy hours about the leg…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:08PMWednesday, August 28, 2013
Soho Theatre, LondonNothing here feels blazingly new, but Chieng ensures – mostly – that it's funnyThey may be taking over the world, but the Chinese are not, as yet, taking over standup…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:07AMTuesday, August 27, 2013
The Jonathan Creek star remembers how Thatcher's £40 per week saved him in the 1980s, while Aziz Ansari signs a giant book deal and John Cleese flogs face cream across the worldThis week's …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:58AMSaturday, August 24, 2013
Bridget Christie takes Foster's standup prize – the UK's most prestigious – with 'beautifully written, delightfully delivered' workIt was a stand-out moment for female standups. The femi…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:46PMFriday, August 23, 2013
The StandWozniak has found himself a compelling alter ego: a would-be light entertainer at the mercy of his domestic and social angstOnce a standup staple, mother-in-law jokes went out with …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:20AMComedians under starter's orders for the Foster's awards, as the 2013 So You Think You're Funny gongs are handed out. Plus: John Lloyd brings a Rotary Club vibe to the fringeScream if you wa…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:08AMThursday, August 22, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardWhen Walsh lays off his throwback booze humour, he's good. Otherwise, his conservative material chokes his talentNominated for the Edinburgh comedy award this week, Seann …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:40AMChicago Sun-Times shocked at 'deep-dyed socialism' and anti-American nature of the fringe; Humza Arshad makes his Edinburgh debut; and were last year's comedy award-winners not funny enough?…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54AMWednesday, August 21, 2013
Gilded BalloonFrequently as maddening as she is funny, the American comic is an expert and intriguing talent"This is something that's top secret and nobody's heard about," says US comic Tig …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:46PMTig Notaro's games hold up crowd anxious not to miss next show; Gareth Ellis gives himself a black eye and wins awardClocked off on the Edinburgh FringeIn theatre circles, it's often said th…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:15PMLet Guardian reviewer Logan talk you through the shortlist of the biggest prize in UK comedy, act by actBrian Logan
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:59AMTuesday, August 20, 2013
Underbelly, CowgateJohn Robertson's interactive comedy based on primitive computer games is ridiculous, illogical and weirdly addictive"You awake to find yourself in a dark room …" Austral…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 02:15PMSteve Coogan announces he's be back in town, on a unique special mission – and the intriguingly odd John KearnsKnowing me, knowing the winner of the Foster's Edinburgh comedy awardA coup f…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:43PMThe top jokes of the Edinburgh festival fringe have just been announced, but there is no sign of the women who have provided the funniest and most creative shows this yearThe winner of the f…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:33AMMonday, August 19, 2013
Heroes @ Bob's BookshopThe moral high ground isn't so much taken as seduced in this show, which wins the rape-joke argument the way it should be won – with comedy"Anyone here been raped? A…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:33AMPornography is everywhere in this year's comedy programme – but not for the reasons you might think. Plus: awards week begins; and Andrea Dworkin, comedy heroineSex-drivenIt's porn. Some …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:23AMSunday, August 18, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardThe hotly tipped comedian's best characters are richly imagined, his worst little more than excuses to behave outrageouslyUp-and-comer Jamie Demetriou's show has been…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:37AMFriday, August 16, 2013
Assembly HallMuppets? Improvising? For adults only? What's not to like? Quite a lot, as it happensMuppets? Improvising? For adults only? What's not to like? Quite a lot, as it happens, in th…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:17AMPredicting stars-to-be is a haphazard business – as I know only too well. Plus: a grizzled comic gives us a blast from the past, and Edinburgh gets a glimpse of the futureTomorrow's stars …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:35AMLaughing Horse @ the Counting HouseBehind this talented musical comedian's wholesome, naive facade, a story emerges of a woman on the verge of cracking upIt's been a year of striking debuts …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:20AMThursday, August 15, 2013
Pleasance CourtyardAcaster compensates for meaningless material with fine joke-writing and some lovely gagsJames Acaster's comedy couldn't be less important if it tried – although that's n…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:51AMPleasance CourtyardIn terms of technique, Kane is at the top of his game – it's the so-so stereotyping that lets him downRussell Kane is not an obvious person to expound on the British pro…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:51AMOne performer suggests that it's not always healthy to go for the gag above all else. Plus: dreams come true on the fringe, and a computer tries its hand at standupBeyond the jokeWhen people…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:11AMWednesday, August 14, 2013
Laughing Horse @ the Counting HouseCharacters, plot and some very good jokes are conjured up in one of the most enjoyable 60 minutes on the fringeYou won't remember the Jane Austen nove…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:39AMUnderbelly, CowgateAn improvised, eight-hour mime marathon was an often gripping celebration of the spirit of playThere's no orthodoxy for how to follow winning the Edinburgh comedy award. B…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:50AMThe free fringe is beating some other comedians pants down – but can it last? Plus: is Scottish independence a huge joke?Free for all?I was at The Wrestling last night (see below). Joe Lyc…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:38AMTuesday, August 13, 2013
Pleasance Courtyard, EdinburghBrett Goldstein returns with another comic yarn about sex and society, but while there are some good laughs, it doesn't ring quite true enoughTwo years ago, Bre…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:22AMAssembly, George SquarePascoe's lively mind teases out big questions with intelligence, silliness and self-deprecation to make a near-perfect show"So, let's go over the lovely things we've l…
SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:58AM 
